“I think you mean to say that we brighten up otherwise dull and tedious days with unexpected excitement,” Neifion corrected. “And screaming.”
Tamsin’s taut muscles were finally starting to relax. She drew in a deep, shuddering breath, and let it out again, slowly. She looked up, meeting his eyes at last—and stiffened all over.
He jerked his own gaze upward, fixing his eyes on the stars rather than the heavenly body in his arms.
“Neifion,” he gritted out. “Go away.”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like me to fetch you a towel?” Cuan couldn’t see the kelpie’s expression, but he could hear the smirk. “Maybe help you dry those difficult-to-reach areas?”
“Neifion.”
“Just trying to be friendly.” The kelpie’s footsteps retreated, turning into the clop of hooves. “Nice to meet you, human lady. If you ever fancy a different steed between your thighs, always happy to oblige.”
With a soft splash, the kelpie disappeared back into one of the pools. Cuan waited until his nose told him that the water horse had truly left before releasing Tamsin.
“Wait a moment,” he murmured, still being careful to keep his gaze averted as he hoisted himself out of the spring. “I will fetch you a towel.”
There was a cedar wood chest by the hot springs, enchanted to always be filled with fresh linens from the storerooms of Maeve’s sidhean. Lifting the lid, Cuan drew out a lavender-scented towel, kept warm by the casket’s magic. Doing his best not to drip all over it, he squelched back to the hot springs.
“Here.” He shook it out, holding it for her to step into. “Unless you wish to bathe further?”
“No.” Tamsin wrapped the towel around herself. Even though it enveloped her from head to ankle, she shivered. “Kind of had enough of water for a while. Maybe forever.”
He longed to draw her into his arms again…but he did not think that she would welcome his touch. And not just because he was soaked to the skin himself.
“I will stand guard while you dress,” he said, wishing with all his heart that he could do more. “And then I will take you home.”
She flinched. Too late, he realized what he’d said.
He cursed himself. “I am sorry. I meant—”
“I know what you meant,” Tamsin said softly. She drew the towel tighter around herself, turning away. “It’s okay, Cuan.”
And he knew that it wasn’t.